Was diabetic shock cause of Sunday chase, crash?

Did diabetes have a role in Sunday afternoon’s police chase in Hornell?

Bob Clark

Did diabetes have a role in Sunday afternoon’s police chase in Hornell?

Daniel Patrick Palenscar Jr., 38, of 5438 Braddock Ridge Drive, Centreville, Va., was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, a class D felony, and unlawfully fleeing from a police officer, a misdemeanor, following a short chase which ended in a car accident on Maple City Drive at State Street in Hornell.

A woman who answered the phone number listed at Palenscar’s address and who identified herself as his mother, but would not give her name, said Palenscar has been diagnosed with diabetes.

If diabetes was an issue, it is something Undersheriff David Cole said he could not comment on because of health care privacy laws. Cole added, however, it would be Palenscar’s responsibility to handle any potential condition over which he would have some form of control.

“He’s responsible to maintain his glucose and sugar levels, and not act in a reckless manner,” Cole said, adding it will be up to a court to decide whether or not a diabetic attack triggered the incident, and whether or not Palenscar should be held accountable for the chase.

Deputies received a report from a person in the Town of Dansville of a motorist driving “very erratically” and southbound on State Route 36.

Palenscar, allegedly driving a black sport utility vehicle with a Florida registration, did not stop when Deputy Jen Reed attempted to pull him over, and Palenscar allegedly sped away, swerving in and out of traffic.

According to Cole, Palenscar allegedly sideswiped a car as he attempted to pass it near the intersection with Adsit Street right before crashing his vehicle into a light pole, a road sign and a tree near State Street. Deputies said Palenscar almost struck a small child at the State Street intersection.

After the crash, Cole said, Palenscar “was combative at the scene,” adding Palenscar was transported to St. James Mercy Hospital.

Palenscar was remanded to the Steuben County jail and posted $5,000 cash bail Monday.

Cole said Palenscar was in Hornell because he was involved in a loss prevention training session at Wegmans.